oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

i made cookies today- like i need these: i found this recipe online...

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
2 sticks of butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tbsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 1/2 cups AP flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
dash of nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups oats (regular, not quick cooking)
2 cups chocolate chips
Directions:
Cream together butter and sugar very well. Add eggs, vanilla, and syrup; beat well. Sift together flour, soda, seasonings, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture. Mix in oats, chips, and nuts. Scoop large balls of dough (about 2 tblsp) onto a greased cookie sheet and freeze until firm. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375° and remove dough from freezer (this keeps them from spreading too much). Arrange on cookie sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake in preheated oven for about 12 minutes-14 minutes. Cool 1 minute on pans and then remove to wire rack. yum!
God Bless

chocolate chocolate cake

I made a birthday cake today- tomorrow is a co-worker's b-day and since it was my b-day was last, i have to provide the cake this time around. i don't mind at all, because of my love for baking and this particular co-worker. she is the sweetest, quirkiest, craziest lady ever. she's also a new grandmother, so while i have to listen to accounts of her grandaughter's latest accomplishments, (i.e. blinking, smiling, pooping) i still love her. sooo, when i was told she like chocolate cake with chocolate icing went to work. in the end, this was the result:

i'm pretty excited about it- i don't really like chocolate on chocolate but i taste tested some and i think it's gonna be a hit. even brandon tried it and he dislikes chocolate on chocolate even more than i, and he said it was good. so i'm pleased.

it's basically just chocolate sponge cake (cut into 3 layers) with chocolate frosting (simple chocolate buttercream) after putting it together & frosting it, i pressed mini chocolate chips into the frosting- the 3 hearts on top are heart shaped York Peppermint Patties. woo hoo!

valentines day cupcakes

i came home & made two different valentine cupcakes:

#1 - buttercream(ish) frosting
this recipe was the much easier & healthier of the two. i'm excited to try them tomorrow!













#2 - cream cheese frosting
these ones came out awesome! they were a little more time consuming and rather fattening but SUPER yummy!

i'm pretty excited to send them off with my husband to work tomorrow. i hope they go over well!

Happy <3 Day!

mini chocolate chip muffins

i'm 24 today!!! brandon did well with my present this year- he got me a wonderful Coach bag- i <3>
hmmm- so we went to church & then panera & then coldstone & then came home. he watched the pro bowl (GOD what i would give to be in hawaii right now) & i made some mini chocolate chip muffins:


Mini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons buttermilk (if buttermilk is unavailable, you may use regular whole milk)
1/2 cup semisweet miniature chocolate chips


Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350° degrees F/180° degrees Line a mini muffin pan with 18 (1 3/4-inch) mini muffin cup liners.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
3. In bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla, and beat to combine. Add the dry ingredients, alternating with the sour cream and buttermilk, and beginning and ending with the dry ingredients; scrape down the bowl as necessary. By hand, gently stir in the chocolate chips.
4. Divide batter evenly between lined muffin cups. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let stand in pans for 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes 2 dozen mini muffins.
they're good- just the perfect size for popping into your mouth & feeling bad 10 minutes later after you've eaten 3+. awesome

cornmeal banana pancakes

this morning i made cornmeal banana pankcakes. they were pretty good:

Cornmeal Banana Pancakes:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/8 tsp salt (pinch)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tblsp sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1 tblsp oil
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1-2 bananas sliced (optional)

Directions: sift together dry ingredients in a small bowl- wisk in the wet ingredients (minus the bananas) heat up a griddle or non-stick pan & add butter- pour batter into pan to desired pancake size- when the pancake just starts to bubble place desired amount of banana slices on top of pancake and flip. cook till firm (an addtl 1 -2 min) and transfer to plate. serve w/butter or maple syrup or whatever you eat pancakes with! enjoy.makes about 8 medium sized.

GO GIANTS!